What I love about this
episode:
I just really love this episode as a whole. I can remember
getting goosebumps the first time I watched it. It's
amazing. As for specifics...

It still seems topical. We do still hear troubling stories
about
censorship and civil rights in China. And the exportation of
labor was a rather big topic during this recent election. As
I
watched, it was easy to forget this episode is over ten years old.

I feel so badly for Jean when she gets walloped with the past and
is
forced to speak
about it at the restaurant. Imagine just going out for
lunch and then having to tell mere acquaintances about your tragic
history. Ouch.

Incidentally, I did love and get a much needed laugh out of Tess
swooping in to distract Alex so Jean could speak freely.
Yay,
Tess!

I appreciate the history lesson here. I was only 7 in 1989
so
Tiananmen Square, for me, is pretty much just the photo of the
student
in front of the tank. Prior to viewing this episode, I don't
think I'd even seen any other footage. So I think it was
great
that the TBAA people showed us that interspersed with the acted
flashback scenes. It made it so much more involving for me
as a
viewer.

This episode really makes me realize how I shouldn't take for
granted
the rights and representation I have as a woman. I mean
there are
a lot of issues we need to face but I'm just so struck by Jean's
line
about being one of the few people who wanted a female child.
Or
her amazement that the Statue of Liberty is a woman. I never
really thought about it. I know, of course, that she is
female
but I never gave much thought to what that meant and what an
awesome
statement that is. And how
empowering it is.I'm
both
amused and impressed by Monica creating a distraction with her
toy-filled suitcase as Jean is trying to get through the security
check.

I love that George conquers his fear (however temporarily) and
orchestrates the reunion
between Gus and Jean. That good bye scene is one of the most
emotional TBAA scenes for me. If you don't count scenes
dealing
with the angels' emotions, it's gotta be in my top five
moments.
It starts for me when Monica says "Don't waste a minute asking why
or
how." The emotion and compassion in her voice and in her
eyes
reminds me of why Monica was my role model once upon a time.
But
this scene is mostly about Gus and Jean for me.

"We have always been together. We have always been
one."
Gus saying that is, for me, the most romantic moment in all of
TBAA. Until... "I died for China... but I lived for
you. Forever." The scene is so tragic and so beautiful
and
so Shakespearean. I just stare in awe every time I see it.

I cannot imagine the strength it took for Jean to walk away from
Gus. That was true bravery because I think, if it were me, I
would consider it easier to die then than continue to strive for
the
dream she and Gus shared.

That's some really tragic irony when Jean sees Liberty Moon and
her
kite right before she's arrested. That, too, is pretty
Shakespearean. That scene is really well played. When
Monica and Edward try to push through the crowd as Jean's being
led
away, it reminds me of "Jesus Christ Superstar." Just
staging-wise. It definitely highlights the theme of
self-sacrifice so vital to this episode.

I like Edward's explanation of how he feels for Jean. He
says
it's "deeper than being in love" because when he saw her reunited
with
her husband he felt "sincere happiness." Wow. There
are
some really amazing guys in this episode.

Monica is really amazing
in
this episode as far as her interaction with
Jean. That she was willing to stay with her in prison, even
if it
meant a decade... that's true self sacrifice. I'm deeply
moved by
all their scenes together from that point on.

The music that starts right before Jean is attacked is really,
really
stirring. When it's played over Jean making Monica promise
to
find Liberty Moon... wow.

I love this line from Monica to Jean: "On this side there is life
and
there with Him, there is life also." It hearkens back to the
very
similar line Andrew spoke in "Random Acts." Beyond the
obvious
comfort of the statement and it being something Jean very much
needed
to hear, I also find it touching that Monica echoes Andrew (even
if she
doesn't realize it) with him right at her side.

Monica closing Jean's eyes is a sadly beautiful moment.

I like that at the end the trio of angels walk away together,
touching. Affection is nice. Especially after so many
emotional ups and downs.

What I didn't love about
this
episode:Alex
is a jerk. But I really can't blame the guy for freaking out
in
the
park. I do think it was more than a little dishonest and
wrong to
not
tell him the whole story. After all, the guards ended up
coming
to *his*
room. Edward and Monica did put him in some danger without
even
filling him in and giving him the option to bow out. It just
didn't
seem very respectful of his free will to me. Even jerks
deserve
to
have free will.

Monica asking Andrew if he stayed with the dying Gus.
Really? She had to
ask? I think Andrew was a little offended by that and
rightly
so. What did she think? "No, Monica. I really
didn't
care to watch so I went to the store and came back a couple hours
later. Then I took him Home. He seemed confused.
Ho-hum." Crikey. It just seemed
really insensitive right after Andrew used the phrase "hurts my
spirit." Also, in that scene you get the impression she'd
been
pushing Andrew to talk, too. Sure. When he's needed to
talk
at times, she's AWOL. And when he doesn't want to, she
pressed
him. Nice.

In the scheme of things this is minor but... I'm bothered that
Monica
tells Edward that Jean fell down a flight of stairs. Yes,
it's
literally true but I think he deserved to know more of what
happened
and that it's not like she just tripped herself up.

When Edward asks Monica if he'll ever see her again she says "I
don't
think so." Ack!!! Those moments are like fingers on a
chalkboard to me. It sounds terrible. I mean he knows
she's
an angel. Assumedly Edward will go to Heaven. Monica
comes
from Heaven. Heaven is for Eternity. So... They
should see each other again! What's wrong with "You
will.
Some day."? The sarcastic brat in me always wants to hear a
human
say back "Oh, geez. Well, thanks for shooting down my
childhood
dreams of Heaven being a reunion with all those who have touched
my
life."Lingering questions:
When Monica is telling Andrew and Tess about her intent to stay
with
Jean she says something like "it's been done before." I'd
love to
know those stories of angels who chose to stay with their
assignments
on Earth.
I'm confused about why Monica seemed to feel pain when she was
protecting Jean. Would that be true of all times when angels
protect people? Or was that just because of Monica's choice
to
remain with Jean of her own accord? It's disturbing to
see.
Not in a "bad, shouldn't be there" way. Just
disturbing.
But also moving.

I'm confused. Does Piao Yue actually mean "Liberty Moon" or
"Statue of Liberty"? Because Jean uses the former but Piao
Yue
says the latter to which Edward nods.

Parts that made me feel
swoony:
Andrew looks
adorable and carefree flying that kite. I wish he was like
that
more often. I especially wished for that Andrew at about the
halfway point when he broke my heart. But more on that
later.

As much as I love his long hair and his shaggy S9 hair, I really
like
this haircut, too. It's short but not too short. He
looks
dignified and older but still the same ol' Andrew. Which
then
made me think sappy things about Dyeland but I'm not going to get
into
that here as it's really not relevant.

Andrew looked cute with that lil rattle toy thingy that fell outta
Monica's suitcase. He's barely in this so I'll take the
moments
where I can get em! Especially when his shirt was not all
the way
buttoned and so he looked smashing.

Andrew's so Merlin-like in this episode. Ya know how in some
Arthurian renditions Merlin just pops in every so often,
briefly?
Andrew does that a lot in this episode. Like with being at
the
desk to give them the New York paper. And I am glad every
time... I know. I have a problem. But I'm not
willing
to work on it. ;-)

All fun aside, here is where Andrew breaks my heart:
Monica: Why won't you tell me?
Andrew: Monica, I have watched so many political prisoners in
China die
of "natural causes." There's nothing natural about it.
Gus
died *terribly* and *painfully* and to describe it actually hurts
my
spirit.
Monica: You stayed with him?
Andrew: Of course I did! And he died with hope.

First, I don't like thinking about Gus suffering because as stated
above, the guy is my top romantic lead on TBAA. Plus, it's
not
like you can fully tuck him away as a fictional character because
you
know that real people experienced this. But then add
Andrew in... and his hurt spirit... It's not fair.
It's not
fair that someone should suffer for working for good. And
it's
not fair that Andrew has to put up with problems that don't even
originate with his people. This conversation makes me awed
by the
angels of death. To see such a dark element of humanity and
not
despise us but, instead, remain compassionate and loving... it's
astounding. So beyond obviously crushing on Andrew, I truly
admire him.

Also, his body language here... The way his hands move
anxiously
and his gritted teeth when he says the words "terribly" and
"painfully"... The way he looks off to the side, into the
distance, when he's finished speaking... If I didn't believe
so
strongly in the importance of what he was doing... I'd want to run
off
with him to some nice place right there. As it was, I did
run off
to the store which was probly a good thing as I was getting
really,
really angsty.

While I think it was appropriate that it was mostly Monica who
spoke to
Jean as she died, I'm really glad Andrew was there. Both for
Jean's sake and Monica's.

Random thoughts:
This episode makes me think of one of my former Religion
teachers. I can remember him talking about the Cultural
Revolution and how the educated people among others were
targeted. And I remember him saying that would have been
many of
us. It made it really personal. Especially because I'm
pretty sure I had seen this episode by then.

When Jean talks about sneaking peaks at the Statue of Liberty
book, it
made me think about what images hold that kind of power for
me.
Right now I'm not sure I have something like that. I used to
have
a painting of Jesus that, when stressed, I'd look at and feel
better. I still have it but I don't use it like that any
more. Maybe I should. I really need to rediscover this
idea.

There's
a part where Edward recalls a chapter about China from a
textbook he
had in school. The title was "China: Land of
Contradictions." I've decided that if I wrote a chapter
about
Monica in a book, I'd call it "Monica: Angel of
Contradictions."
Cause I just think she's so amazing here with Jean and in those
scenes
I admire her immensely. Yet then she'll go and say
something
mindless to Andrew or ignore him and it's just... weird and
confusing.

A Word from Travis:This is my favorite episode of the entire series (sad,
romantic, sacrifice). Think this is a spectacular episode
that was fitting as a season finale episode. I was first shown
this episode in High school and this poignant episode has stayed
with me ever since, despite not seeing it for several years now.

I have to say, as I remember what I’ve seen from season 4 in the
previous years before now, I realize that as TBAA soldiered on,
the stories became more daring and attention grabbing (abortion,
prostitution, HIV, domestic abuse, hate crimes, the effects that
drug has on children born to using mothers, etc.). I do agree
about TBAA doing an excellent job of showcasing social issues.
Look at the events that are taking place today, especially with
the possibility of black individuals being targeted due to their
race. I’m Black and I hate to think of someone having an issue
with me due to the color of my skin. “Children of the Night” and
“The Pact” are classic episodes that need to be shown in
Middle/High Schools. I have to say, I wish when I was in
college, there was a course that was about Touched by an Angel;
watching/analyzing the episodes, etc. What a thought provoking
class that would’ve would been! With God, all things are
possible so I’ll pray that a class be formulated that is about
the series.